Illinois Counties Push for Separation | St. Louis News

A growing movement to split Illinois is gaining momentum as seven new counties, including Henderson, prepare to vote this November on seceding from Cook County. Fueled by frustration over Chicago’s disproportionate political power — Cook County holds 40% of the state’s population — rural voters are rallying behind groups like Illinois Separation Referendum and New Illinois, demanding greater representation in Springfield. Though these local votes are non-binding, they signal a powerful grassroots push. The real challenge? Constitutional hurdles require approval from both the Illinois General Assembly and U.S. Congress — a tall order. Still, with dozens of counties already voting in favor, the message is clear: Illinois’ downstate residents are done being ignored. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/17f9a3961865137f